On the site you will find information about the city of Bangor, what is happening here as well as some of its background and history. There are links to information about the High Street, to the various attractions in the Bangor area and to forthcoming events in the City. You can also learn about the Bangor City Council, who is your local Councillor and what services the Council provides for the community. There is the timetable for Council and Committee meetings and the minutes of those meetings.
Hwb Dinas Bangor
The Hwb is open to everyone and is a safe space where you can get help and advice on a wide range of social and wellbeing matters.
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Transforming Towns project
Transforming Bangor
Twin City friendship
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Since its launch in April 2025, Hwb Dinas Bangor has become an essential lifeline for people across the city.
Located next to the bus station at the former Caffi Hafan building and operated by Bangor City Council in partnership with a wide network of voluntary-sector and community organisations, the Hwb provides a welcoming and inclusive space where residents can seek help, support, and connection.
What Hwb Dinas Bangor Offers
Hwb Dinas Bangor brings together a comprehensive range of support services under one roof:
In addition to support services, Hwb Dinas Bangor offers meeting and event spaces, complete with large screens, Wi-Fi, kitchen facilities, and green space for outdoor events, available free of charge to local community groups and organisations. This makes the Hwb not only a service centre but a hub for community connection and collaboration.
Achievements & Impact
Hwb Dinas Bangor’s impact continues to be significant. Since opening, the centre has welcomed over 9,000 visits from people seeking support, advice, or simply a friendly conversation.
Thanks to collaboration with 47 partner organisations, including health and social-welfare teams, outreach services, educational partners, and community groups, the Hwb ensures a broad and diverse range of expertise is available to the people of Bangor.
Ongoing initiatives include regular digital-skills drop-ins, outreach sessions with North Wales Police under the Cuppa with a Copper scheme, suicide-bereavement and mental-health support through specialist local providers, and joint work with schools such as Ysgol Friars to support young people’s wellbeing.
A resident recently shared:
“I come here mainly for my mental health and to meet new people, just to have a break from everything else. It’s a nice place to come to, easy to get to, and loads of people come here. We make new friends, and we can chat about our problems and things like that.”
As one of the driving leaders behind the initiative, Lisa Goodier, Bangor Deputy City Director, said:
“Hwb Dinas Bangor reflects what’s possible when a community comes together to care for one another. Every person who walks through the door is welcomed without judgment, and we’re proud to provide a space that delivers dignity, support, and hope to those who need it most.”
She added: “Many people need support that isn’t statutory - help with housing, family pressures, substance challenges, or general wellbeing. The Hwb is here to reach people early, before their mental or physical health becomes a crisis, and to help them live their best life.”
“Hwb Dinas Bangor is easy to drop into - relaxed, welcoming, with no appointments needed. People can chat, have a paned, or access support from over 45 expert partners. They only have to tell their story once, and we work with them so they build resilience and confidence for the future.”
“We lead with kindness and compassion, not judgement; that’s what changes lives.”
The centre continues to fulfil the aspirations of community leaders, volunteers, and residents who, back in early 2024, called for a central, accessible hub to meet the city’s varied and urgent needs.
Why Hwb Dinas Bangor is Unique
2026 Looking Ahead: Growth, Partnerships & Expanded Access
Hwb Dinas Bangor continues to plan the next stages of its development.
Future goals include strengthening collaborations with Ysbyty Gwynedd and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to widen access to physical and mental-health support; deepening partnerships with local schools, including expanding talks and mental-health awareness sessions at Ysgol Friars; continuing to support projects such as Actif Bangor, Hwb Westend (children and young people up to age 18), and other local youth and community groups; extending opening hours, including potential evening and weekend access subject to securing additional funding; and encouraging donations, grant funding, and volunteering to help the Hwb grow and strengthen its reach.
Dr Martin Hanks, Bangor City Director, highlighted the importance of the Hwb for Bangor’s future:
“Hwb Dinas Bangor is unique within our city and has already proven itself indispensable. Its success shows the power of partnership - between the Council, our health and social-care partners, our voluntary organisations, and the people of Bangor themselves. With the right support and funding, we can expand access even further, ensuring the Hwb is here for everyone, whenever they need us.”
He also reflected on its impact:
“It’s really inspiring and exciting to come here and see the real-world difference that’s being made by the team to the ordinary people of Bangor.”
Opening Hours and Access
Hwb Dinas Bangor stands as a testament to what is possible when a community pulls together to ensure no one is left behind. Whether you need help, know someone who does, or want to play your part as a volunteer, partner, or supporter, the door is open for everyone.
Hwb Dinas Bangor welcomes residents on a drop-in basis during the following times: Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm.
No appointment is required – simply drop by for a friendly chat, advice, referral, or a cup of tea.
Residents can also get in touch via hwb.hub@bangorcitycouncil.com or by calling 01248 352421.
About Hwb Dinas Bangor
Hwb Dinas Bangor was established in April 2025 in response to increasing community need for accessible, integrated support services in Bangor. The Hwb is operated by Bangor City Council in partnership with voluntary, statutory, and community organisations. Its mission is to provide a central, inclusive space where residents can access advice, support, and opportunities for personal and community wellbeing.
About Bangor City Council
Bangor City Council leads and supports a wide range of community initiatives, working in partnership with local organisations to improve resident wellbeing, strengthen resilience, and foster a thriving and inclusive city.
Statistics & Data
Case studies from individuals supported by the Hwb are available upon request.
For media enquiries or further information, contact: Medi Parry-Williams medi@mpwmakingplaceswork.co.uk.
Bangor City Council is proud to mark the conclusion of a landmark year of celebrations honouring the city’s 1,500th anniversary, a milestone that has united communities, showcased Bangor’s rich heritage and laid foundations for future generations.
Throughout 2025, the Bangor 1500 programme delivered an extensive calendar of heritage events, civic ceremonies, cultural festivals, community activities and public-space improvements, making it one of the most significant celebratory years in the city’s history.
The year’s main civic highlight came in May with a spectacular military parade, when thousands lined the streets to see serving personnel from The Royal Welsh, the Welsh Guards, RAF Valley, reservists, veterans and over 100 cadets march through the city centre. Led by the iconic regimental goat Shenkin IV and accompanied by the British Army Band from Catterick, the parade was hailed as one of Bangor’s most important civic events in decades, a proud moment that reflected the city’s unity, resilience and deep respect for its history.
October brought another flagship moment with the Bangor History Festival, a two-day programme of talks, tours, workshops and exhibitions attended by more than a thousand people. Featuring leading historians including Greg Jenner and Professor Kate Williams, the festival explored Bangor’s medieval origins, women’s history, Jewish heritage, maritime stories and more, while hundreds of local schoolchildren took part in hands-on heritage activities.
The summer celebrations delivered some of the most memorable scenes of the anniversary year. On 16 August, the Bangor Summer Festival transformed the city centre with spectacular family attractions and live entertainment. Visitors enjoyed a 6.5-metre brontosaurus roaming through crowds, Transformers and film-themed vehicles on the High Street, a city-wide Dino Treasure Hunt, circus workshops, vintage steam engines and a full programme of live music. Performances by Pantonic All Stars, Fearlessly Taylor, Oasish - est. 1995 and CELT created an unforgettable festival atmosphere. Bangor City Director Dr Martin Hanks described it as “a day the city will always remember.”
This followed the lively July “Big Weekend”, a three-day community celebration featuring Bingo Bedlam, Welsh-language music presented by Menter Iaith, and a family fun day with superheroes, princesses, inflatables, shows and face painting, all contributing to a warm, inclusive celebration of local culture.
Beyond festivals and performances, 2025 leaves a lasting legacy. Significant improvements have been made to Bangor’s public green spaces, including the historic Bible Gardens and Parc y Coleg - with enhanced accessibility, pathways, lighting and woodland restoration. Earlier in the year, St Deiniol’s Cathedral was granted the Freedom of the City, the highest civic honour, recognising its 1,500-year spiritual, cultural and civic contribution.
Cultural activity flourished across the anniversary year, from BLAS Pontio’s vibrant street performance Y Rali, to community dance initiatives, exhibitions, public art installations and heritage projects that animated the city and celebrated its identity. Together, these activities reflect Bangor City Council’s ambition not just to celebrate the past, but to strengthen civic pride and community connection.
The year of celebration will conclude in style with a New Year’s Eve fireworks display on Bangor Pier, a moment set to illuminate the skies over Bangor and provide a fitting reflection on a year that has honoured the city’s remarkable past while inspiring renewed hope and ambition for the future. As the lights rise above the water of the Menai Strait, Bangor enters a new chapter, carrying forward the pride, unity and community spirit that have defined its 1,500th anniversary.
Reflecting on the anniversary programme, Dr Martin Hanks said:
“Bangor 1500 has been far more than a celebration of our past, it has been a catalyst for the future. This milestone year has shown the strength, pride and creativity of our community. It has reminded us of who we are, and inspired us to build the Bangor we want future generations to inherit.”
With its blend of heritage, culture, community engagement and long-term improvements, 2025 has reaffirmed Bangor’s place as one of Wales’s most historic and forward-looking cities.
Bangor Heritage College was officially launched on 27 November, marking the start of an exciting new project celebrating the city’s rich history.
Building on the successful model developed through the Holy Island Landscape Partnership, the College invites school pupils to explore Bangor’s heritage through a series of fun, flexible learning modules, earning credits as they go, and ultimately graduating at a ceremony next year.
Funded by Bangor City Council and led by Bangor University with support from external partners, the initiative blends online learning with real-world exploration, encouraging pupils to discover local stories, landmarks and people. By engaging with the modules, pupils are supported to learn with friends, family members and their wider community, strengthening their sense of belonging and connection to the city.
More than thirty pupils from seven Bangor-area schools attended the launch event, held in the university’s historic Powis Hall. Dr Martin Hanks, City Director, and Cllr Medwyn Hughes, Mayor of Bangor, provided the official welcome, before project leads Nia Young, Senior Lecturer in Education and Counselling at Bangor University, and Mervyn Jones introduced pupils to the programme.
As part of the launch, pupils enjoyed a guided tour of Bangor University’s Main Arts Building with Dr Leona Huey, Lecturer in Heritage, and had the chance to share ideas on how the project could be developed to encourage even more young people to take part. The Heritage College team will visit local schools in the New Year to continue these conversations and support pupils as they begin working through the modules.
Nia Young said: “We are delighted to launch the Bangor Heritage College. The Holyhead project was so inspiring and we’re thrilled to bring the concept to Bangor, especially with the city celebrating 1500 years this year.
We’re very excited about working with schools in Bangor to support children in exploring their local heritage over the coming months. Special thanks to Mervyn Jones for preparing the learning modules, which are invaluable in connecting local school pupils with Bangor’s rich history and heritage”
Dr Martin Hanks, Bangor City Director, added: “As Wales’ oldest city, Bangor has a wealth of history, and this project will increase knowledge and understanding amongst our local school population. From landmarks and notable buildings to key individuals and important milestones, the Heritage College will no doubt inspire school pupils to learn more about Bangor’s past.
“The project adds to the 1500th anniversary celebrations this year, complementing the Bangor History Festival and other events in 2025. We look forward to working with our partners and seeing pupils graduate after their hard work.”
Further information about the Bangor Heritage College is available at: www.bangor.ac.uk/community/bangor-heritage...
